Machine for applying washers to headed threaded fasteners



June 8, 1965 RODENBERG 3,187,356

MACHINE FOR APPLYING WASHERS T0 HEADED THREADED FASTENERS Filed 001;. 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i INVENTQR. DELBERT aeouweaea M E A TTOPNE) June 8, 1965 D. E. RODENBERG MACHINE FOR APPLYING WASHERS TO HEADED THREADED FASTENERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiiilaad Oct. 29, 1962 INVENTOR. DEL BERT E. RODENEEFG A 7'7'0RNE Y /6' I ll 0 /47 June 8, 1965 D. E. RODENQBERG MACHINE FOR APPLYING WASHERS T0 BEADED THREADED FASTENERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001:. 29, 1962 INVENTOR 05155 E. Papa 35m A Be ATTOPNEY United States Patent M 3,187,356 MACHINE FOR APPLYING WASHERS T0 HEADED THREADED FASTENERS Delbert E. Rodenberg, Napoleon, Mo. Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,855 15 Claims. (Cl. -155) My invention relates to machines for applying washers It is a purpose of my invention to provide a machine for H applying non-metallic washers of the above referred to character to such headed threaded fastening elements, after the same have been threaded. It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a machine of the above referred to character, that is simple and rapid in operation. This is accomplished by providinga machine in which all of the movements of feeding the washers and headed fastening elements, and of the plunger, for moving the shank of the fastening element into and through the opening of the washer to a position in which the washer is adjacent the under side of the head of the fastening element, are accomplished by rapid relatively short reciprocating movements of the parts. All the movements of all of the parts of the apparatus are reciprocating or oscillating in character, except for rotational movement of the plunger about its axis, in the case of means for screwing the shank of the headed fastening element into the washer, in a modification of my invention.

More specifically my invention involves means for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, which comprises a substantially vertically reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof and feeding members for the headed fastening members and for the washers, which have a reciprocating movement transversely to that of the plunger into and out of position for cooperation with the plunger. 7

The feeding means comprises a feeding member for the headed members for feeding the same. one at a time, with the head thereof upward, which feeding member is reciprocable substantially horizontally between a projected position, with the head of the fastening member vertically aligned with the socket, and a retracted position, in which the feeding memberreceives the headed screw-threaded fastening member from means to which one of said fastening members has been fed by gravity, and means for supe plying the washers one at a time, in a substantially horizontal position, to a position for assembly with the headed fastening member, by action of the'plunger, comprising a washer feeding member that is reciprocable substantially horizontally, in a path lower than the aforementioned feeding member, betweena projected position, with the opening in the washer fed thereby vertically aligned with thesocket of the plunger, and a retracted position, ready I to receive another washer to be fed in the same manner.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide the above referred to apparatus with means for reciprocating the feeding members and plunger in timed relation so as to successively move the washer feeding member and the feeding member for the headed fastening members into their projected positions and the plunger from a raised to a lowered position. The timing of the reciprocating movements of these parts is preferably such that the washer is first fed into its position in alignment with the socket of the plunger, and after this movement has been completed, the feeding member for the headed fastening member begins moving toward the position in which the head of the headed member is in alignment with the socket of the plunger.

The apparatus is further, preferably, constructed and arranged so that the plunger is at the bottom of its stroke when the feeding movement of the washer begins, and as soon as the feeding movement of the washer feeding member toward the projected position thereof commences the plunger begins its upward movement. The movement of the feeding member for the headed fastening member begins toward its projected position as the plunger is moving upward. The upward movement of the plunger is completed shortly after the headed fastening element reaches its final projected position. The movement of the reciprocable member that feeds the washers has begun its return movement to its retracted position before the plunger has reached its uppermost position.

After a short downward movement of the plunger the socket in the lower end of the plunger engages with the head of the headed fastening element and the feeding member for the headed fastening members begins its return movement. The further downward movement of the plunger pushes the shank of the threaded headed fastening member downwardly into and through the opening in the washer until the downward movement of the plunger is completed, whereupon the washer is in engagement with the under side of the head of the fastening element.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide means to assure that the headed fastening member will be in a substantially vertical position when it reaches its position in alignment with socket of the plunger, said means comprising a slide which is provided with a recess in the end facethereof that is toward the plunger, which recess is provided with a magnet that is adapted to act on the shank of the fastening element to hold it in the recess and a finger that engages the head of the fastening member to further assist in holding the same in a vertical position as the slide moves substantially horizontally from its retracted position to its projected position with the head of the fastening element in alignment with the socket provided in the lower end of the plunger. V p

In order to further assure proper alignment of the head of the fastening element with the socket in the plunger, stop means is provided on the machine, comprising a finger that is urged yieldingly in a direction toward the shank of the headed fastening element, when it is in its final projected position, which presses the finger toward the shank of the fastening member so that said shank will be held thereby against the bottom of the recess provided in the slide therefor.

the headed member after the plunger has begun its downward movement and the finger on said washer feeding member has withdrawn from under said shank, said resilient means being tensioned by downward movement of said plunger to urge said headed member upwardly out of the lowermost position to which it has been pushed by the plunger, to permit ejection of the headed fastening element from the machine by means of the finger on the -washer feeding member during the next feeding movement of said washer feeding member.

It is another purpose of my invention to provide means for limiting the movement of the washer under the push Patented June 8, i965 ing action of the washer feeding member to properly align the washer with the shank of the headed fastening element.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide means for rotating the plunger about its axis during its downward movement so that the washers can be threaded onto certain types of headed threaded fastening members onto which the same can not be merely pushed. This means preferably comprises means for continuously rotating the plunger both during its downward and its upward movement.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide means for ejecting the head of the headed fastening element from the plunger socket, such ejecting means being particularly desirable in the form of the invention in which the plunger rot-ates about its axis.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as defined by the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of my improved machine.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, certain parts being omitted.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3 showing the parts in a different position.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 4.

.FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modification.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary detail view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary detail view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the fastening element guide plate and the washer guide member.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my improved machine is provided with any suitable frame with bearings in which is mounted a main drive shaft 21 which is provided with a pulley 22 mounted thereon to rotate therewith, over which a belt 23 operates. Said belt 23 also operates over a pulley 24 provided on the output shaft 25 of a reduction gearing driven by the motor 26. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 13, it willbe seen that a crank 27 is fixed on the end of the shaft 21 and pivoted to the crank 27 is a link 28, the other end of the link 28 being connected with a collar 29 by means of a pivot member 30. The collar 2? is mounted on a plunger 31 between a pair of collars 32, that are adjustable lengthwise of the plunger 31 and secured in adjusted position by means of the set screws 33. The collar 29 is mounted on the plungor 31 so that the plunger is free to turn in the collar 29 and said plunger 31 is slidable relative to the collar 29 except for the provision of the collars 32.

The frame 20 is provided with side members 34 and transverse members 35, which transverse members 35 are provided with guide openings 36 for the plunger 31'.

' The plunger 31 at its lower end is provided with a socket member 37, which is fixed to the lower end of the plunger 31 and which is provided with a socket 38 at the bottom end thereof opening downwardly. Said socket member is shown more in detail in FIG. 8.

Also mounted on the shaft 21 is a cam 39 which has a high portion 40 and a low portion 41 and portions 42 connecting said high and low portions. Said cam 39 is mounted on the shaft 21 to rotate therewith. Cooperating with the cam is a roller 43 which is mounted on a follower 44 (see FIGS. 7 and 14), which has a tubular member 45 mounted thereon in fiixed position, as by welding, said tubular member being provided with a bore 46 into which a rod 47 extends, said rod 47 being slidable in said bore. Said rod 47 is mounted on a bracket 48 provided on the lever arm 49. A strong coil spring 50 extends between the bracket 48 and the tubular member 45 tending to urge the tubular member 45, and the follower 44 toward the shaft 21, and the roller 43 into engagement with the cam 39. The lever 49 is pivoted to a crank 130 mounted in position on a shaft 51 to rotate therewith. Said shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 52 on the frame 20, a block 53 being mounted in fixed position on the shaft 51 and a lever 54 being fixed to the block 53. The lever 54 accordingly will oscillate with the shaft 51, which in turn will oscillate in accordance with the swinging movements of the crank 130 in response to the movements of the follower 44 due to rotation of the cam 39. The follower 44 is provided with suitable means for guiding its movements to keep the roller 43 in proper engagement with the cam 39. Said means is shown in FIGS. 1 and 14 as comprising a pin 131 mounted on the follower 44 and having a head 132 and operating in a slot 133 in a bracket 134 mounted on the frame 20.

Mounted on the frame 20 is a guide block 55 which is provided with a guideway 56 for a slide 57, a top plate '53 being provided on the guide block 55 for confining the slide 57 to a straight line path. A post 59 extends upwardly from the slide 55 extending through a slot 60 in the top plate 58. The lever 54 also extends through a slot 61 in the top plate 58 and through similar slots 135, 136 and 137 in the slide 57, guide block 55 and frame 20. The lever 54 is connected with the post 59 by means of a U-shaped link 62, which has the end portions thereof pivotally mounted in transverse openings in the upper end of the lever 54 and in the upper end of the post 59. It will accordingly be seen that as the lever 54 is oscillated the slide 57 will be reciprocated. The post 59 is pref rably screw-threadcd and has a pair of nuts 63 provided thereon between which one end of a spring finger 64 is clamped. It will accordingly be seen that the position of the spring finger 54 with respect to the slide 57 can be adjusted so as to vary the vertical spacing of the finger 64 from the slide 57. The slide 57 has a pair of forwardly extending ears 65 thereon that have forwardly downwardly inclining top surfaces 65 and c-onvexly curved forward faces 67. Said cars 65 are spaced so as to define a central recess 68 in said slide, which has a transversely concavely curved bottom wall 69. The body portion of the slide 57 is made of non-magnetic material, such as brass. Mounted in a recess in the wall of the forward end of the body portion of the slide 57 is a permanent magnet 70. The one end of said magnet constituting the one pole thereof, which is forwardly, with respect to the slide 57, is mounted flush with the concave bottom wall I 69 of the recess 63, centrally of said recess 68.

Also mounted on the shaft 21 to rotate therewith is a cam 71 which is provided with a high portion 72, a low portion 73 and portions 74 connecting said high portion 72 and low portion 73. Engaging the cam 71 is a roller 75 which is mounted for rotation on the end of a lever 76. The lever 76 is mounted to swing about a pivot 77 provided on the frame 20 and a tension coil spring 78 is mounted between a post 79 on the frame 20 and a post 80 on the lever 76 so as to urge the roller 75 into engagement with the surface of the cam 71. The lever 76 is pivotally connected with a bar 01, which is adjustably connected with a bar 82, by means of a pair of sleeves 83 and 84 mounted on said bars 81 and 82 and a bar 85 mounted on sleeve 84 and slidable in a bore in sleeve '83 in a similar manner to bar 4'7 in sleeve 43. A strong coil spring 112 surrounds the bar 8 5. The spring 112 is of such strength that under normal operation the bars 81 and 82 move as a unit. A post as is pivotally connected at 87 with the bar 8 2 and is screw-threaded so as to receive the nut 08. A guide member 89 having a guideway 90 is mounted on the frame 20 and a slide 9 1 is mounted in the guideway 90 for longitudinal movement therein. Said slide 91 is provided with a threaded opening 138 with which the screw-threaded post 86 engages, and a lock nut 88 is provided therefor. The slide 91 has a flat forward edge 92 and a top plate 93 is provided on the guide 3 9 for confining the slide 91 to a straight line path. The top plate 93 is provided with a slot 94, so as to provide for the reciprocating movements of the post 86. It will be obvious that upon rotation of the shaft 21 and of the cam 71 the lever 76 will be oscillated reciprocating the rods 81 and 82 and oscillating the post 86 and thus reciprooating the slide 91. A spring finger 95 is mounted in fixed position on the slide 91 and projects forwardly therefrom, as will be obvious from FIG. 4, for a purpose to be described below.

Mounted on one of the side members 34 of the frame is a flat metal bar 96 having an angular end portion 97, the end of which engages with the socket member 37 when the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 3. Said bar 96 is provided with a pair of openings for the shank portions of the fastening elements 9 8 and 99, the fastening element 99having a coil compression spring 100 mounted between the head thereof and the side member 34. The fastening element 90 merely is provided with a head -1 for serving as a stop for the bar 96. The bar as thus is yieldingly urged by the spring 100 toward the socket 37 at the end of the inclined portion 97 thereof.

The headed fastening elements are fed to the slide 57, from a suitable hopper, down an inclined guideway comprising a pair of bars 103 defining a slot 104 between the same. Said headedv fastening elements 105 thus travel down the guideway "102 by gravity with their heads resting on the bars 103 and the shanks thereof extending down through the slot 104. A guide plate 106 is mounted under the bottom end of the guideway 102, as will be evident from FIG. 1 and said guide plate 106 is provided with an angular slot, having a portion 107 extending in alignment with the slot 104 and under the same and a portion 103 that extends at right angles thereto (see FIG. and which is open at the end thereof toward the plunger 31 and which aligns with the recess 68 in the slide 57. The junctions of the pontions 107 and 108 of the slot are provided with a curved Wall 109, against which the shank of the forwardrnost headed fastening element 110 shown in FIG. 2 is held by the pressure of the other fastening elements located in the slot 107 and in the guideway 102, which is provided with a hold down spring 139 engaging the heads of fastening elements 110. Assuming that the slide 57 is in retracted position as is shown in FIG. 2,

upon movement of the same, toward projected position .under the plunger 31, the headed fastening element 110 will be picked up by the slide and carried forwardly by said slide 57 as the forward movement thereof progresses.

The washers, which are preferably of a yieldable material, such as synthetic rubber, or similar material, and may have a metal reinforcing ply, if desired, are fed by gravity down an inclined guideway 111, which is pro- ,vided with side flanges 1 13 and which discharges into a transverse passage 1'15 extending to the guideway 90. The washers 116 thus are fed transversely into the guideway 90. a

When the slide 91 is in its retracted position the forward edge 92 thereof is backwardly of the transverse passage 115 and thus one of said washers 116 will be pushed due to the action of the washers, back of the same in the passage 115 and the guideway 111, into the position for the washer 116 shown in FIG. 2. Upon forward movement of the slide 91 into its projected posi tion the washer is carried to the position shown at 116". The guideway has a curved end wall 114 defining a shoulder 140, which limits the feeding movement of the washer to hold it in alignment with socket 38. In the position of the parts shown in F162, the washer 116 has been fed into its position for reception of the shank of a headed screw-threaded member and the slide 91 has been returned to its retracted position.

In operation, the machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, and FIG. 13, first feeds a washer 116 to the position of the washer 116" shown in FIG. 2, this occurring when the high portion 72 of the cam engages the roller 75, as shown in FIG. 1. After the crest of the high portion 72 of the cam is reached the roller rolls down the surface of the cam toward the low portion 73 thereof, resulting in the return movement of the slide 91 toward the position shown in FIG. 2. The crank 27 is turning upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 during the feeding movement of a washer 116 into the position 116" thereof shown in FIG. 2, and the plunger has almost reached the top of its stroke, when the washer has reached the position 116". The slide 57 begins its movement from the position shown in FIG. 2 toward its projected position as soon as the washer feeding slide 91 reaches its projected position, as the roller 43 will ride up the inclined surface 42 of the cam 39 toward the high portion 40 thereof. The movement of the slide 57 toward and away from its projected position is rather rapid, as will be obvious from the shape of the cam shown in FIG. 7.

The bolt 110, which is mounted in the slot portion 107 at its junction with the slot portion 108, has its head portion 117 resting on the guide plate 106 as the recess 68 of the slide 57 is entered by the shank portion 118 of said bolt and the particular type of bolt shown has a flange 119 thereon, which is engaged by the spring 64 (see FIG. 9). While a bolt that is provided with a head that has a flange 119 is shown, the finger 64 can be adjusted so as to engage the head of any headed fastening element that is provided with a threaded shank, whether it be a bolt, screw, or other threaded fastener, and whether it has a flange 119 or is provided with an .ordinary head.

The slide 91 begins its return movement toward re tracted position during the feeding movement of the slide 57. When the slide 57 reaches its projected position, the headed fastening member 110 will be in vertical alignment with the socket 37 provided on the plunger 31. The end of the inclined portion 97 of the finger 96 will be engaging with the shank portion of the headed fastening member 110 when this position thereof is reached, Also the'finger on the slide 91 will still be in position underthe bottom end of the fastening member 110. The fastening member will then be held in position by means of the magnet 70, the spring finger 64, the finger 97 and the finger 95. Also the socket 37 will be immediately above the head 117 of the fastening member.

The plunger 31 then starts its downwardmovement and the socket 38 of the socket member will engage-with the head 1-17 of the headed fastening member 110. Due 'to the fact that the plunger 31 is free to rotate in the bearings 36 and in the collar 29 the hexagonal socket 38 will align itself with the hexagonal head 117 and the further movement of the plunger 31 downwardly will causethe headed fastening element to be pushed downwardly toward and into the opening in the washer 116".

i As soon as the socket member 37 is fully engaged with r the head 117 of the headed fastening element the slide .57 begins its return movement to, retractedposi'tio'n,

said return movement being very rapid so that the plunger socket member 37 will clear the same. As the plunger socket member 37 moves down the finger 97 will slide along the same yieldingly, as will be obvious from FIG. 3. Downward movement continues until the headed fastening member has reached its final position, which is when the plunger has reached the position shown in FIG. 3, and the washer 116" will then be in engagement with the bottom side of the flange 119, or the bottom side of the head 117 if no flange 119 is provided. The shank portion 118 will pass into the opening 141 provided in the bottom of the guideway 90 during downward movement of the plunger 31 and the end thereof will engage the spring 142 to flex it downwardly, putting it under tension, said spring being fixed to the frame 20 at the end 145 thereof.

The slide 91 commences its feeding movement engaging with the washer 116 when the plunger has reached its bottom-most position and the feeding movement of the slide 91 continues as the plunger begins its upward movement. The spring 142 will then urge the washer 116" upwardly out of engagement with the shoulder 146 and the finger 95 engaging with the head of the bolt 11% that has been assembled with the washer 116 will push it out of the machine, through passage 143 having the flaring walls 144, the frame 20 being cut away at 146 to permit discharge of the fastening element 110 by means of finger 95. The frame 20 is also provided with a slot 147 and the guide plate 89 with a slot 148 to provide for the movements of the post 86. The next washer is then fed into position by the slide 91 and the movements of the parts above described to feed a headed fastening element into position for assembly with the washer and the movement of the plunger to push the headed fastening member through the washer, as above described are repeated.

In applying washers to certain types of headed fastening elements, such as self-tapping screws, it is necessary that the plunger 31 be rotated in order to assemble the washer with the screw-threaded headed member without doing undesirable damage to the washer. In order to accomplish the assembly of a washer with such a headed fastening member the machine is slightly modified to provide for continuous rotation of the shaft 31. This modification is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The corresponding parts carry the same reference numerals in FIGS. 11 and 12 as in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 inclusive.

A bracket 120 is mounted on the frame and a motor 121 is mounted on said bracket 120. The motor shaft is provided with a grooved pulley 122, over which a round or similarly shaped belt 123 operates. A pair of idler pulleys 124 is mounted on a bracket 125 on the frame and the two runs of the belt 123 operate over said pulleys to guide the same to the grooved pulley 126, which is mounted on the shaft 31 to rotate therewith, a collar 127 being also provided on said shaft for positioning the pulley 126. The socket member 37' in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a socket portion 38 and a recess 149 in which a compression coil spring 150 is secured, said spring projecting into socket 38.

The screw-threaded headed fastening element is indicated by the numeral 110' in FIGS. 11 and 12 and the head portion 117 thereof enters the socket 33 compressing the spring 149, and the fastening element 110 is rotated as the plunger 31 is moved downwardly, thus screwing the headed fastening element 110 into the opening in the washer 116". The rotation of the plunger 31 is very rapid so that the turning of the headed fastening element by the rotation of the plunger 31 will be a greater number of turns than is necessary for screw-threading the Washer onto the shank of the headed fastening element 110. This, however, is immaterial, as there is no necessity of maintaining a threaded connection between the washer 116" and the headed fastening element 110'. Also, while the frictional engagement of the washer with the bottom of the slideway 91 tends to prevent any rotation of the washer 116" as the headed fastening element rotates, if rotation of the washer by means of the headed fastening element takes place, this is also immaterial in connection with the assembly of the washer with the headed fastening element, as the frictional drag of the washer will always cause relative rotation of the fastening element with respect to the washer. Upon upward movement of the plunger 31 the spring 149 will disengage the head 117 of bolt 11% from the socket 38.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, a slide horizontally reciprocable between a projected and a retracted position, said slide having a recess in an end face thereof, means for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upward, comprising guiding means from which said headed members are suspended by their heads, said guiding means including means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed member in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member into engagement with said shank, said headed member having its head vertically aligned with said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein vertically aligned with said socket, said means reciprocating in a path lower than that of said slide, and means for reciprocating said plunger, said washer feeding means and slide in timed relation.

2. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, a slide horizontally reciprocable between a projected and a retracted position, said slide having a recess in an end face thereof, means for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upward, comprising guiding means from which said headed members are suspended by their heads, said guiding means including means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, said slide having a non-magnetic body portion, a magnet mounted therein and extending to the wall of said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed member in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member into engagement with said shank, said headed member having its head vertically aligned with said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein vertically aligned with said socket, said means reciprocating in a path lower than that of said slide, and means for reciprocating said plunger, said washer feeding means and slide in timed relation.

3. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, a feeding member for said headed members, means for supplying said headed members to said feeding member one at a time with the heads thereof upward, said feeding member being reciprocable horizontally between a projected position with the head of said fastening member vertically aligned with said socket and a retracted position, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein aligned with said socket and below the position of the headed member in the projected position of said feeding member, comprising a guideway and a slide reciprocable in said guideway between a projected position with said washer in said aligned position with said socket and a retracted position and a washer supply passage leading laterally into said guideway in advance of said slide in its retracted position, means for moving said plunger, said feeding member for said headed members and said slide in timed relation to successively move said slide and said feeding member into projected position and said plunger from raised to lowered position and a finger mounted on said slide and projecting forwardly therefrom to be positioned under said first mentioned feeding member in the projected position thereof.

4-. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, a slide horizontally reciprocable between a projected and a retracted position, said slide having a recess in an end face thereof, means for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upward, comprising guiding means from which said headed members are suspended by their heads, said guiding means including means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed member in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member into engagement with said shank, said headed member having its head vertically aligned with said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein aligned with said socket and below the position of the headed member in the projected position of said slide, comprising a guideway and a second slide reciprocable in said guideway between a projected position with said washer in said aligned position with said socket and a retracted position and a washer supply passage leading laterally into said guideway in advance of said second slide in its retracted position, means for moving said plunger and said slides in timed relation to successivel move said second slide and said first mentioned slide into projected position and said plunger from raised to lowered position, and a finger mounted on said second slide and projecting forwardly therefrom to be positioned under said first mentioned slide in the projected position of said first mentioned slide.

5. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof,

means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, a slide horizontally reciprocable between a projected and a retracted position, said slide having a recess in an end face thereof, means for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upward, comprising guiding means from which said headed members are suspended by their heads, said guiding means including means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, said slide having a non-magnetic body portion, a magnet mounted therein and extending to the wall of said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed member in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member into engagement with said shank, said headed member having itshead vertically alignedwith said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein aligned with said socket and below the position of the headed member in the projected position of said slide, comprising a guideway and a second slide reciprocable in said guideway'between a projected position with said washer in said aligned position with said socket and a retracted position and a washer supply passage leading laterally into said guideway in advance of said second slide in its retracted position, means for mov ing said plunger and said slides in timed relation to successively move said second slide and said first mentioned slide into projected position and said plunger from raised to lowered position, and a finger mounted on said second slide and projecting forwardly therefrom to be positioned under said first mentioned slide in the projected position of said first mentioned slide.

6. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, means for continuously rotating said plunger about said axis, a slide horizontally reciprocable between a projected and a retracted position, said slide having a recess in an end face thereof, means for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upward, comprising guiding means from which said headed members are suspended by their heads, said guiding means including means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed member in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member into engagement with said shank, said headed member having its head vertically aligned with said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein vertically aligned with said socket, said means reciprocating in a path lower than that of said slide, and means for reciprocating said plunger, said washer feeding means and slide in timed relation.

7. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lo'wered position, means for continuously rotating said plunger about said axis, a slide horizontally reciprocable between a projected and a retracted position, said slidehaving a recess in and end face thereof, means for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upwardly, comprising guiding means from which said headed mtmbers are suspended by their heads, said guiding means including means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, said slide having a non-magnetic body portion, a magnet mounted therein and extending to the wall of said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed member in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member into engagement with said shank, said headed member having its head vertically aligned with said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein vertically aligned with said socket, said means reciprocating in a path lower than that of said slide, and means for reciprocating said plunger, said washer feeding means and slide in timed relation. 7

8. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger mounted for rotation about'its longitudinal axis having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof,

means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, means for continuously rotating said plunger about said axis, a slide horizontally reciprocable between a projected and a retracted position, said slide having a recess in and end face thereof, means H for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upward, comprising guiding means from which said headed members are suspended by their heads, said guiding means including means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, said slide having a non-magnetic body portion, a magnet mounted therein and extending to the wall of said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed member in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member into engagement with said shank, said headed member having its head vertically aligned with said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally extending position with the opening therein aligned with said socket and below the position of the headed member in the projected position of said slide, comprising a guideway and a second slide reciprocable in said guideway between a projected position with said washer in said aligned position with said socket and a retracted position and a washer supply passage leading laterally into said guideway in advance of said second slide in its retracted position, means for moving said plunger and said slides in timed relation to successively move said second slide and said first mentioned slide into projected position and said plunger from raised to lowered position and a finger mounted on said second slide and projecting forwardly therefrom to be positioned under said first mentioned slide in the projected position of said first mentioned slide.

9. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, an upstanding reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger up and down between a raised and a lowered position, comprising a haft, means for rotating said shaft, a crank mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, a pair of stop collars mounted in spaced relation adjustably lengthwise of said plunger, a collar slidably mounted on said plunger between said stop collars, said slidably mounted collar engaging said stop collars to positively limit movement of said slidably mounted collar in opposite directions, and a link connecting said crank and said slidably mounted collar, a feeding member for said headed members, means for supplying said headed members to said feeding member one at a time with the heads thereof upward, said feeding member being reciprocable transversely of the path of said plunger between a projected position with the head of said fastening member aligned with said socket and a retracted position, a washer feeding member, means for supplying said washers one at a time in a substantially horizontal position to said washer feeding member, said washer feeding member being reciprocable in a path transversely to the path of said plunger in downwardly spaced relation and at an angle to the path of said first mentioned feeding member between a projected position with the opening in the washer fed thereby aligned with said socket and a retracted position, and means for moving said plunger and reciprocable feeding members in timed relation to successively move said washer feeding member and said first mentioned feeding member into projected position and said plunger from raised to lowered position.

10. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, an upstanding reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger up and down between a raised and a lowered position, a feeding member for said headed members, comprising a slide having a body portion of non-magnetic material, said body portion having a pair of transversely spaced forward projections thereon defining a central recess in the forward end of said slide between said projections adapted to receive the shank of a headed member therein, said recess having a transversely concavely curved bottom wall, a magnet mounted in the wall of said recess and having one end thereof flush with said bottom wall, a spring finger mounted on said body portion and extending longitudinally thereof in upwardly spaced relation to said body portion, mean for supplying headed .fastening elements to said slide one at a time comprising a pair of transversely spaced guide members extending transversely of the path of said slide and defining a shank receiving slot between the same, a slotted guide member extending across said path out of horizontal alignment with said body portion, said guide member having an angular slot receiving said fastening elements from said pair of guide members and providing means for aligning a fastening member shank with said recess, guiding means for said slide, means for reciprocating said slide transversely of the path of said plunger between a projected position with the head of said fastening member vertically aligned with said socket and a retracted position, means for feeding washers one at a time into a substantially horizontally disposed position with the opening therein in vertical alignment with said socket, a stop finger mounted in position to be engaged by the shank of a fastening member mounted in said slide in the projected position thereof and resilient means urging said finger toward said shank.

11. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, a vertically reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, a feeding member for said headed members, comprising a slide having a body portion of nonmagnetic material, said body portion having a pair of transversely spaced forward projections thereon defining a central recess in the forward end of said slide between said projections adapted to receive the shank of a headed member therein, said recess having a transversely concavely curved bottom wall, a magnet mounted in the wall of said recess and having one end thereof flush with said bottom wall, .a spring finger mounted on said body por tion and extending longitudinally thereof in upwardly spaced relation to said body portion, means for supplying headed fastening members one at a time to said slide, guiding means for said slide, means for reciprocating said slide horizontally between a projected position with the head of said fastening member vertically aligned with said socket and a retracted position, means for feeding washers one at a time into a horizontally disposed position with the opening therein in vertical alignment with said socket, a stop finger mounted in position to be engaged by the shank of a fastening member mounted in said slide in the projected position thereof and resilient means urging said finger toward said shank.

12. In a machine for applying washer-s to headed threaded fastening members, an upstanding reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger between a raised and a lowered position, a slide reciprocable transversely of the path of said plunger between a projected and a retracted position, said slide having a recess in an end face thereof, means for supplying said headed members to said slide one at a time with the heads thereof upward, comprising guiding means from which said headed members are suspended by their heads, said guiding means includ- 111g means directing the shank of a headed member into said recess, said slide having a non-magnetic body portron, a magnet mounted therein and extending to the wall of said recess, yielding means on said slide engaging the head of the headed member in said recess, a stop member mounted to engage the shank of said headed memher in the projected position of said slide, means yieldingly urging said stop member int-o engagement with said shank, said headed member having its head aligned with said socket in the projected position of said slide, means for feeding washers one at a time into a substantially horizontally extending position with the opening therein aligned with said socket, said means reciprocating in a path lower than that of said slide, and means for re- 13 cipr-ocating said plunger, said washer feeding means and slide in timed relation.

13. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, an upstanding reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger up and down between a raised and a lowered position, comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a cnank mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, a pair of stop collars mounted in spaced relation adjustably lengthwise of said plunger, a collar slidably mounted on said plunger between said stop collars, said slidably mounted collar engaging said stop collars to positively limit movement of said slidably mounted collar in opposite directions, said plunger being rotatable in said slidable collar, and a link connecting said crank and slidable collar, a feeding member for said headed members, means for supplying said headed members to said feeding member one at a time with the heads thereof upward, said feeding member being reciprocable transversely of the path of said plunger between a projected position with the head of said fastening member aligned with said socket and a retracted position, a washer feeding member, means for supplying said washers one at a time in a substantially horizontal position to said washer feeding member, said washer feeding member being reciprocable in a path transversely to the path of said plunger in downwardly spaced relation and at an angle to the path of said first mentioned feeding member between a projected position with the opening in the washer fed thereby aligned with said socket and a retracted position, and means for moving said plunger and re-eiprocable feeding members in timed relation to successively move said washer feeding member and said first mentioned feeding member into. projected position and said plunger from raised to lowered position.

14. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, an upstanding reciprocable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger up and down between a raised and a lowered position, means for feeding headed members with the heads thereof upward into position below said plunger in alignment with said socket, a washer feeding slide, a guideway for said slide extending transversely of the path of said plunger in downwardly spaced relation to said means for feeding said headed members, said guideway having a bottom wall engaged by said slide, a finger project-ing forwardly from the forward end of said slide in spaced relation to said bottom wall of said guideway, means for feeding said washers one at a time in horizontal position between said bottom wall of said guideway and said finger, said slide being ing means, said guideway having means thereon engaged v by said washer for holding said washer in vertical alignment with said socket, and means for moving said plunger, said r-eciprocable feeding member and said slide to suecessively move said slide into projected position, said headed member feeding means into position to align a headed member with said socket and said plunger from raised to lowered position.

15. In a machine for applying washers to headed threaded fastening members, an upstanding reciproeable plunger having a head receiving socket at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger up and down between a raised and a lowered position, means for feeding headed members with the heads there-of upward into position below said plunger in alignment with said socket, a 'washer feeding slide, a guideway for said slide extending transversely of the path of said plunger in downwardly spaced relation to said means for feeding said headed members, said guideway :having a bottom wall engaged by said slide, a finger projecting upwardly from the forward end of said slide in spaced relation to said bottom wall of said guideway, means for feeding said washers one at a time in horizontal position between said wall of said guideway and said finger, said slide being reciprocable lengthwise of said guideway between a projected position with the opening in the washer fed thereby vertically aligned with said socket and a position with its forward end retracted backwardly beyond said feeding means, said guideway having a curved wall portion defining a shoulder engaged by said washer for holding said washer in vertical alignment with said socket, and means for moving said plunger, said reciprocable feeding member and said slide to successively move said slide into projected position, said headed member feeding means in the posit-ion to align a headed member with said socket and said plunger from raised to lowered position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 155,573 10/74 Dowler et al 74-44 248,685 10/81 Alker 10-155 480,530 8/92 Tobey 14-432 2,281,190 4/42 Bertalan et al. 29208 2,906,011 9/59 Focht 292'11 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR APPLYING WASHERS TO HEADED THREADED FASTENING MEMBERS, A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE PLUNGER HAVING A HEAD RECEVING SOCKET AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID PLUNGER BETWEEN A RAISED AND A LOWERED POSITION, A SLIDE HORIZONTALLY RECIPROCABLE BETWEEN A PROJECTED AND A RETRACTED POSITION, SAID SLIDE HAVING A RECESS IN AN END FACE THEREOF, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SAID HEADED MEMBERS TO SAID SLIDE ONE AT A TIME WITH THE HEADS THEREOF UPWARD, COMPRISING GUIDING MEANS FROM WHICH SAID HEADED MEMBERS ARE SUSPENDED BY THEIR HEADS, SAID GUIDING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS DIRECTING THE SHANK OF A HEADED MEMBER INTO SAID RECESS, YIELDING MEANS ON SAID SLIDE ENGAGING THE HEAD OF THE HEADED MEMBER IN SAID RECESS, A STOP MEMBER MOUNTED TO ENGAGE SHANK OF SAID HEADED MEMBER IN THE PROJECTED POSITION OF SAID SLIDE, MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING SAID STOP MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHANK, SAID HEADED MEMBER HAVING ITS HEAD VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID SOCKET IN THE PROJECTED POSITION OF SAID SLIDE, MEANS FOR FEEDING 